The battle continued to rage on, a swirling chaos that the outside world could not affect. Marines, pirates, prisoners, and even the transvestites from Impel Down seemed to have all fallen into a state of madness. It was a war of utter insanity.
The Straw Hat Pirates, though they were the core strength of a newly formed Emperor crew, were like a small boat in a violent storm. Near the Thousand Sunny, Usopp, Chopper, and Tashigi were utterly exhausted but still fighting with everything they had. An endless tide of Marine soldiers kept rushing toward them.
The two men and the reindeer had to fight relentlessly to protect the ship. Fortunately, they were formidable fighters. They had defeated countless Marines, including many captains and even a few rear admirals. The Thousand Sunny was safe, but the peace didn't last.
A Pacifista appeared, firing a laser that blasted a massive hole in the ship's side, even affecting the keel. Usopp, with his awakened Observation Haki, could almost hear the ship's desperate scream.
The attack was so sudden that Usopp, Chopper, and Tashigi froze, their hearts sinking. Then, Usopp snapped. He created a slingshot from the wind and fired a feather-shaped arrow that pierced the Pacifista's chest, leaving a large, smoking hole. Electrical sparks danced across the powerful robot's body as it trembled and finally collapsed.
The Marines who were about to attack hesitated, watching in terror. They couldn't believe the "Tengu Sniper King" could take down a Pacifista in a single shot. Why were the Straw Hats full of such dangerous people?
Usopp paid them no mind and ran to the hole in the ship. He saw the keel, badly cracked and damaged. He remembered what Kaku had told him—that once the keel breaks, the ship is done for.
He couldn't even bear the thought. His mind was filled with memories: Kaya's smile when she gave them the ship, and all the adventures they had shared. He couldn't accept that this was the end.
Just then, Sanji appeared in a flash of lightning. He had intended to check on Tashigi but froze when he saw the massive hole in the ship and Usopp's heartbroken face.
He was too late. Sanji slapped himself, furious at his own delay. He could have been back sooner, but so many things had gotten in his way. After taking care of Sentomaru, he had rushed back, only to spot Hina fighting Smoker.
He'd been so captivated by her beauty that he was delayed, consumed by a foolish jealousy. He only managed to regain his senses when he remembered his duty to Tashigi.
But on his way to the ship, he spotted the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, gracefully sweeping the battlefield with her powerful legs. Sanji was almost petrified on the spot.
As the most beautiful woman in the world, she instantly mesmerized him. He lost all control, his body moving toward her even as his mind screamed to get to the ship.
Then, a massive explosion ripped through the air. He thought he heard Tashigi's scream and immediately snapped out of it, abandoning Hancock to rush back. But by the time he arrived, the damage was done. If only he had been faster, the ship would have been fine.
Sanji walked up to the damaged ship and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm so sorry, Usopp. I'm late."
Tears streamed down Usopp's face. "No, don't say that, Sanji. It's my fault. I didn't protect the Merry well enough. I'm just not strong enough!"
Usopp was filled with self-loathing. He didn't know about Sanji's predicament. He only remembered Ikki telling him that with powerful enough Haki, he could have sensed the attack coming. He blamed himself for not being strong enough to protect his ship.
Chopper and Tashigi stood silently by, tears in their eyes, also feeling that they had failed.
Suddenly, Usopp wiped away his tears. "There's a crack in the keel. I don't know if we can repair it. We have to get to Water 7 as soon as possible! And if the Merry can't go on, then as her crewmates, we have to give her a proper farewell."
As he said the last part, his fingernails dug into his palms. He was more realistic than his original self. After learning so much from Kaku, he now understood ships on a much deeper level. He had seen the Merry's limits and knew that the damage to her keel meant the end was near.
The Merry was tired; it was time for her to rest.
Usopp's words made Tashigi and Chopper cry even harder. Sanji lowered his eyes and lit a cigarette, unable to speak. The rest of the Straw Hats, scattered across the battlefield, all seemed to feel a pang of sadness and reluctance, a premonition that they were about to lose something precious. But in the heat of battle, they couldn't dwell on the feeling.
Ikki felt the same strange feeling and looked around, but since all his companions seemed fine, he couldn't figure out what had happened. He then remembered Little 3 and looked up at the residential area behind Marineford.
A towering candle suddenly rose into the sky, hundreds of feet tall, with a massive flame at the very top.
"I found it! Little 3 found them!" Ikki's heart raced. He jumped onto his giant sword and soared higher.
Suddenly, Garp lunged forward, throwing an iron fist at Ikki's head. "What have you been muttering to yourself, you little brat? I'll beat you to death!"
Ikki parried the punch with his sword, roaring, "Get out of my way, old man! Blackbeard is here!"
Garp stopped, a stunned look on his face. He remembered that Blackbeard was the one who captured Ace, only to become a Warlord and then suddenly disappear to Impel Down before the war. Why would he be here now?
Ikki's shout was loud enough for many to hear, sending a new wave of shock across the battlefield.
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